» Obese police officers of South Africa asked to "to shape up or ship out"

Obese police officers of South Africa asked to "to shape up or ship out"

Published: Wednesday, September 15, 2010, 16:29 [IST]

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London, Sept 15 (ANI): Obesity seems have become a headache for the South African police, as they have been asked to loose weight instead of "massaging beer bellies" to combat the unlawful elements actively and avoid public perception that the lazy cops are not fit enough to safeguard the civilians, or loose their jobs.

According to News.com.au, South Africa has one of the highest crime rates in the world and the Government is concerned that the public have considering the police as lazy, fat, corrupt and inefficient.

Police Deputy Minister, Fikile Mbalula threatened that the police would have "to shape up or ship out".

"Some police officers decide to balloon immediately after leaving the training college. They should not be busy massaging beer bellies when criminals are on the run. They must work on their weight," he said.

"Are you fit enough to fight the criminals? If not, the police service is not for you," We need officers who can match criminals pound for pound," he added.

Several dozen police officers were reportedly sent to special boot camps to get fit before the football World Cup in the summer, amid concerns that the showpiece event could be ruined by crime. The result was positive, as the event was almost crime-free.

Obesity of police officers is not the only concern of South Africa. The country ranks alongside the U.S. and Germany in the obesity stakes, with 61 percent of South Africans overweight, obese or morbidly obese, according to a report by GlaxoSmithKline, the drug and healthcare company. (ANI)